RANGERS boss Ally McCoist admitted today that keeper Steve Simonsen is a major doubt for Saturday's Scottish Cup game against Dumbarton.

But the Ibrox boss backed stand-in goalie Lee Robinson to rise to the occasion should Simmo fail to recover in time for the third-round tie at the Bet Butler Stadium.

Simonsen was stretchered off during his side's 1-0 home win over St Johnstone in the League Cup quarter-final on Tuesday evening.

The experienced English shot-stopper banged his head against the post while saving a Brian Graham header.

The former Everton, Stoke City, Preston and Tranmere player was taken to hospital but scans have shown that he suffered no major damage.

However, the 35-year-old goalie sustained swelling to his head and is expected to miss training for a few days.

If the club's medics don't give him the all-clear to play against the Sons it will mean a first-ever Rangers start for Robinson - eight years after he made his Ibrox debut.

The 28-year-old goalkeeper replaced Ronald Waterreus towards the end of a league game against Hearts in 2006.

Since then Robinson has played for Morton, Kilmarnock and Queen of the South, with whom he knocked Gers out of the 2013 Ramsdens Cup en route to the Dumfries team winning the trophy.

And he picked up another winner's medal in the same tournament last season with Raith, shutting out Rangers in the final at Easter Road.

McCoist said: "Steve's as well as we could have hoped for. The scan results were positive. When I saw him on Tuesday night he had a big swelling on the left side of his head which, thankfully, has gone down a bit since.

"But he's a serious doubt for Saturday. Lee will come in if he misses out.

"He did just fine against St Johnstone, even though at first I thought he had left his gloves in the dugout when he came rushing out of his goal a minute after coming on!

"I'm saying that with my tongue firmly in my cheek, of course. Lee did very, very well. I'm delighted for him.

"He's a confident lad and, more importantly, he's a very good keeper. We have faith in him to do a job for us."

Speaking to the official Rangers website, McCoist added: "Looking back now, signing a reliable keeper like Lee has maybe not turned out to be the worst decision we've made this season.

"With the injuries to first Cammy Bell and now Simmo, it's great that we have cover.

"It seems bringing Lee in was a good call because he may well play on Saturday."